Drug agents bust three

Rockland — Three local residents were arrested this week by police agencies and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

On Thursday, Sept. 23, the MDEA and Rockland police arrested Ralph White, 49, of Rockland after a several-month investigation into White selling cocaine from the Rockland Fish Pier.

When White was arrested by officers he was found in possession of hydrocodone. White was taken to the Knox County Jail and charged with two counts of Class A aggravated trafficking cocaine and possession of hydrocodone. The cocaine charge was aggravated because the drug transactions were allegedly taking place within 1,000 feet of Buoy Park in Rockland, which is a designated drug-free zone.

White did not immediately make bail and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance in 6th District Court in Rockland on Friday afternoon, Sept. 24. This investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

Monroe was arrested after an investigation by the two departments found that Monroe was selling the prescription drug Adderall from her residence on Rankin Street in Rockland. Monroe was taken to the Knox County Jail and was released on $500 cash bail with a court date of Dec. 27.

In an unrelated case, also on Sept. 21, the MDEA, Knox County Sheriff's Office, Maine State Police and the Maine Warden Service executed a search warrant at the residence of Christian Willis Neils, 33, of Hope after finding marijuana plants growing behind his residence on Pease Town Road.

Agents seized 26 marijuana plants growing outside and about 3.5 pounds of processed marijuana in the house. Some of the marijuana was already packaged for resale. Also seized were scales and other evidence of trafficking. Agents found a loaded 20-gauge shotgun in the residence.

Neils was not home at the time that the warrant was executed. He turned himself in at the Knox County Jail on Sept. 23. Neils was charged with Class B aggravated trafficking of marijuana. This charge was aggravated due to the loaded shotgun being present with the marijuana. The marijuana has a street value of more than $7,000.